Scenario

Jim Connor is the owner of Frame Gallery, a local framing store located in Nashville, Tennessee. Jim has just received his end of the year financial statements from his accountant. When he sees his gross and net income he is dismayed. With almost $250,000 in gross profit, he just doesn't understand why he is always short on cash to pay his employees and suppliers. One of his largest suppliers of framing materials notified him just last month that they would no longer extend him credit and he would have to pre-pay all of his orders. He puts a call into his accountant to set up a meeting with her to discuss the financial health of his business.

Questions

• Judging from the information provided, what type of organizational structure was chosen when the Frame Gallery was created as a small business? What do you think are the reasons behind this decision?
• Using the financial statements provided, calculate the 12 financial ratios discussed in your text using the financial information that is provided below for Frame Gallery,
• Looking at these ratios, are there any of them that look suspicious? If so, which ratios are they and what about them do you believe is cause for concern?
• Using the industry ratios that have been provided, compare Frame Gallery's ratios with those for the industry. What "red flags" do you see when making this comparison?
• What do you think might be causing the deviations that you see between Frame Gallery's ratios and the industry ratios?
• What recommendations would you make to Jim to help him improve the financial performance of Frame Gallery in the future? make a memo to Jim outlining your recommendations, making certain to include your reasons for the recommendation (i.e. ratio analysis and/or comparison to industry ratios).

Financial Statements

Frame Gallery, LLC

Income Statement

For the year ended December 31, 20XX

Merchandise Sales $500,000

Cost of Goods Sold $255,000

Gross Profit $245,000

Wage Expense $140,000

Rent Expense $45,000

General and Administrative $45,000

Total Expenses $230,000

Earnings Before Interest & Taxes (EBIT) $15,000

Interest $5,000

Income before tax $10,000

Tax (@ 25% rate) $2,500

Net Income/(Loss) $7,500

Frame Gallery, LLC

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 20XX

Assets

Current Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents $29,500

Accounts Receivable $10,000

Merchandise Inventory $100,000

Prepaid Expenses $7,500

Total Current Assets $147,000

Property, Plant, and Equipment $5,000

Total Assets $152,000

Liabilities

Current Liabilities

Accounts Payable $74,250

Wages Payable $10,250

Total Current Liabilities $84,500

Long-Term Debt $55,000

Total Liabilities $139,500

Owner's Equity $12,500

Total Liabilities and Owner's Equity $152,000

Frame Gallery, LLC

Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended December 31, 20XX

Cash provided by operating activities

Net Income (loss) $7,500

Changes in operating assets & liabilities

Inventories ($100,000)

Accounts Receivables ($10,000)

Accounts Payable $10,250

Accrued expenses $7,500

Cash provided by (used by) operations ($85,000)

Cash provided by investing activities

Purchases of fixed assets ($5,000)

Cash provided by (used by) investing ($5,000)

Cash provided by financing

Long-term borrowing $55,000

Owner contributions $5,000

Payment of Debt and Financing Costs ($5,000)

Cash provided by (used by) financing $55,000

Change in cash ($35,000)

Beginning cash balance $0

Ending cash balance ($35,000)

Frame Gallery, LLC

Statement of Owner's Equity

For the year ended December 31, 20XX

Beginning Capital $0

Owner Contributions $5,000

Net Income/(Loss) $7,500

$12,500

Owner Withdrawals $0

Ending Capital $12,500